Fifty Shades Darker: Book Two of the Fifty Shades Trilogy

Daunted by the singular tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house. But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist.

As if I haven't suffered enough though the first one, I had to go ahead and buy the second book. Clearly, I'm a glutton for punishment.

If like me, you were hoping for the story/writing to improve... Let me stop you right there. It only goes down hill from here. This is only a repetition of the first book (they fight, make up then screw) only now, the sex scenes are even more obnoxious and desperate. Also, let's not forget those annoying never-ending emails they keep exchanging back and forth. UGH!

Now that E.L. James had made a fortune selling this trash, she can certainly pay for a few creative writing classes.

Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

Papillon

Sentenced to life imprisonment in the penal colony of French Guiana for a crime he did not commit, Henri Charriere became obsessed with one goal: escape. After planning and executing a series of treacherous yet failed attempts over many years, he was eventually sent to the notorious prison Devil's Island, a place from which no one had ever escaped - until Papillon.

Henri Charriere definitely knows how to embelish a story. I believe that most of his accounts were greatly exaggerated or made up.

Despite the fact that he kept publicizing he was a convicted murderer did not stop complete strangers from helping, giving him money and all sorts of presents. Nuns, Priests and Cardinals were going out of their way to hide or help him escape. Local Indian women threw themselves at him (Sisters, if you don't mind) Prison Wardens helped in his escape, other prisoners fatally endangering their lives to sneak him food while in isolation. He even got lepers to give him a boat loaded supplies. Wardens wives had nothing but compliments and lust for him.

Like, who the hell is this guy, right?

Let's not forget that he was also an adroit Sailor, Gardener, Fisherman and tattoo Artist... The only thing this strory is missing is a couple of Mermaids riding pink unicorns.

Outlander

Why we think it’s a great listen: An all-time Audible favorite that mixes historic fiction, adventure, and romance with one of the most fascinating literary devices: time travel. Outlander introduces an exhilarating world of heroism and breathtaking thrills as one woman is torn between past and present, passion and love. In 1945, former combat nurse Claire Randall returns from World War II and joins her husband for a second honeymoon. But their blissful reunion is shattered....

Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

In August of 1914, the British ship Endurance set sail for the South Atlantic. In October, 1915, still half a continent away from its intended base, the ship was trapped, then crushed in the ice. For five months, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men, drifting on ice packs, were castaways in one of the most savage regions of the world.

The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild

>When South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony was asked to accept a herd of "rogue" wild elephants on his Thula Thula game reserve in Zululand, his common sense told him to refuse. But he was the herd's last chance of survival: they would be killed if he wouldn't take them. In order to save their lives, Anthony took them in. In the years that followed he became a part of their family. And as he battled to create a bond with the elephants, he came to realize that they had a great deal to teach him about life, loyalty, and freedom.

Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)Adventures of Waverly Bryson

Waverly Bryson is a successful businesswoman in her late 20s who almost has it all: a dream job in sports PR, two best friends, and a bar where everybody knows her name. What she doesn’t have is a ring on her finger. And after being ditched at the altar, she’s in no hurry to get one. Besides, plenty of other issues keep her busy, including her wayward father, a new rival at work, and an ever-nagging fear that her life is not turning out as she thought it would...or should.

This whole book is a never ending repetition about how poor Waverly Bryson got dumped by her fiance... She whines about it to just about anyone, her Celibrity Client, a woman she meets on a plane, a complete stranger at a party, her publisher. I mean, enough already, we get it!

Overall, the book is not bad. The ending is predictable as expected. A+ Narrator.

Words of Radiance: The Stormlight Archive, Book 2

In that first volume, we were introduced to the remarkable world of Roshar, a world both alien and magical, where gigantic hurricane-like storms scour the surface every few days and life has adapted accordingly. Roshar is shared by humans and the enigmatic, humanoid Parshendi, with whom they are at war.

By now I'm pretty sure you've already figured out that Brandon Sanderson did not dissapoint with this sequel. The book was great. This review is more about Micheal Kramer's performance.

I had some major issues with the narration. Matter of fact I can't listen to anything by Michael Kramer. His normal voice is pleasant enough, but as soon as he tries to switch between different characters all of them sound the same. Why does he insist on speaking with his lips tight!? What made this narration even more unbearable it's the emphasis he puts on all the "S" Which forces you to listen to the story on a very low setting.

As far as Kate Reading goes, I'm not sure why everyone is lashing out on her. She's just performing the character as it was presented to her. Really, It's not her fault if Shelan is an idiot. Haha. I thought she did a great job. The one star rating does not reflect on Reading's performance.

Angela's Ashes

Why we think it’s a great listen: There’s no gentle way to put this – Frank McCourt’s performance of Angela’s Ashes is just better than the Pulitzer Prize-winning book. Frank McCourt shares his sometimes heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking story of growing up poor, Irish, and Catholic in the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Angela's Ashes.

WOW!!! What a great experience... Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes is one of those books I can listen to over and over again. Don't let the title fool you. This is not one of those sad, depressing books. McCourt did a great job telling his childhood story with a lot of humor and wit. The movie version is lot more depressing though.

I don't think anyone else but Frank McCourt could of done this story justice by narrating it. Truly amazing!

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Genteel society ladies who compare notes on their husbands' suicides. A hilariously foul-mouthed black drag queen. A voodoo priestess who works her roots in the graveyard at midnight. A prominent antiques dealer who hangs a Nazi flag from his window to disrupt the shooting of a movie. And a redneck gigolo whose conquests describe him as a "walking streak of sex".

This whole story could of been told in half the time if it wasn't for neverending history of Savannah Georgia and the introduction of a number of characters who had nothing to do with the story itself.

Jeff Woodman did a wonderful job with the narration. I especially enjoyed his rendition of the Lady Chablis. Made me laugh out loud a couple of time.

If you're looking for a short version of this story, you might want to stick with the movie instead.

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